A Verint poll of 1,000 contact center workers (published April 2026) found that nearly a third (31%) were likely to resign within half a year—a sign of voluntary attrition, not workforce reductions. Meanwhile, 94% of agents believe AI will reshape their jobs over the next three years, with 61% expecting to take on more complex and technical tasks. Already, roughly half (49%) are juggling multiple communication channels at once. (Source).
The sad truth? These 31% leave their jobs only to find themselves employed again in another BPO company. Why is that?
It’s because of the lack of an exit plan that should have been prepared prior to the application.
In today’s blog post, I will tell you the appalling reasons why these 31% left their jobs and how you, as the current BPO agent, should prepare for this.
Because whether you like it or not, the time will come when leaving the BPO company, no matter how promising or how much you love your job, will cross your mind because of the reasons I’ll be telling you in the following paragraph.
If you are new here, hi! I’m Jen, and I am currently employed as a Team Leader in one of the BPO companies in the Philippines, with 10 years of experience in this industry.
Just recently, I received my incentives because I managed to lower attrition in my team from the month of July to December last year, 2025.
But I am not here to convince you to stay; rather, I challenge you to have your exit plan prepared to keep you from applying to another BPO job.
My newest plan for this blog is to provide you with a way out of BPO—the best way out that will help you earn more than what you are earning right now, so that there is no need for you to leave one toxic job for another.
Here are the shocking reasons no one tells you about why you will be the next quitter in this industry…
- Limited growth potential that makes employees feel underappreciated and underpaid – BPOs often promise “fast growth” (team lead in 6 months). Most agents don’t realize that only ~5-10% of agents ever move to higher roles, and salary increments often don’t beat inflation. Many are shocked to learn their starting pay 3 years ago has less purchasing power today despite “annual raises.” They are not aware of the gap between recruiter promises and actual internal mobility data.
- Ignoring mental health issues – Most BPO agents think “everyone is stressed, just deal with it.” They don’t realize that unaddressed mental health leads to permanent cognitive decline (memory, focus, decision-making) — not just feeling sad. They also don’t know that in many BPOs, mental health leave is legally protected similarly to physical sick leave. Companies rarely advertise this. Often, agents blame themselves for burnout instead of recognizing it as an occupational hazard.
- Unhappy or threatening work environment – Agents expect tough customers, but they are often unaware that toxic peer/manager behavior (public shaming, back-to-back calls without breaks, forced overtime) violates labor laws in many countries. Most don’t know they can report anonymously to labor boards. Agents often think “That’s just BPO culture,” instead of recognizing workplace harassment.
- Unsecured job – BPOs market themselves as stable corporate jobs. Many agents don’t realize that attrition is planned (business models expect 30-50% turnover) and that “performance improvement plans” often lead to termination regardless of effort. There is in fact, the illusion of long-term stability.
Now that you know these reasons, don’t you think it’s time to prepare for your exit plan? Sit down and begin brainstorming your way out, or better yet, subscribe to this channel to be notified whenever I have a new blog post.
This blog is my journey, and I will update you every week with new lessons I learn on top of the steps that I am currently taking. All to help you quit your BPO job and live the life you want with your family while being mentally and physically healthy at the same time.
Until next time!